May 29, 2019

A Leap of Faith

  © Shambhavi Pant

 "With roots secured in the mud  

A stem that grows through water   

And a flower that lies pristinely above." 

We've all heard and read that life ain't a bed of roses, yet deep inside our hearts, many of us aspire to a life that lacks hurdles. Life isn't meant to be a singular uphill journey but is one with crests and troughs. Numerous researches indicate that as human beings, we are innately wired to seek pleasure.  And why should we be surprised when apes are traced to be our anthropological ancestors. Though I majored in Sociology, cognition and brain functioning have always been of interest to me. Under modern civilisation, we seek to fulfil higher order needs much beyond food, sex and shelter as the Psychologist Abraham Maslow contends. Therefore, we tend to chase "highs" through our work, activities and relationships. Those who do innovate, create or work upon things or ideas fight against the natural tendency to relax or just be. According to Maslow's Hierarchy of needs paradigm, their physiological, safety, love & belonging and ego/esteem needs stand fulfilled and they are somewhere near the apex of the pyramid in the quest to self-actualization.